The cost of tickets to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games
"could be the highest ever for a summer Olympics," according
to AROUND THE RINGS. The cost will depend on "how many
tickets are actually put up for sale -- and how much SOCOG
realistically expects to make from ticket sales," but an
analysis of numbers from a '98 SOCOG media guide shows that
ticket prices could average $54. But since SOCOG's
estimated number of tickets it will sell has risen in the
past few months, the average could end up being A$57, which
would be "about equal" to Atlanta's price in '96 (ATR,3/12).
BREAKING EVEN: Although expenses for the Nagano Games
"far exceeded initial estimates," officials say they "appear
to have generated enough revenue to offset the costs,"
according to an AP report. Nagano government spokesperson
Hidehiko Arai said operating expenses are "expected to
reach" $843.4M, but that costs will be "offset by strong
ticket sales and higher-than-expected revenue from
sponsorship contracts" (AP/BOSTON GLOBE, 3/18).